Blacktail Deer Plateau Professional griefers

Yeah, it moved rather quickly yesterday! Sorry if it gave you (or anybody else) whiplash! <3

He heard Atticus approaching but didn't move until his brother spoke. Turning slowly toward him, Peregrine saw his own horror and grief mirrored in Atticus's ice chip eyes. He saw something else there too, something others who didn't know Atticus as well as he did might never notice, something that pierced down to the very roots of his existence. His lips parted but nothing came out for a minute.

When he could finally speak, he replied to his brother's unspoken accusation. "I know. I know it's my fault." He spoke softly, not an ounce of defensiveness in his voice. "I failed as a dad... and I'll be paying the price for as long as I live." Fresh shame and dismay washed over him and he looked away, unable to hold his brother's gaze.